[V2] - Chapter 9. Explanation
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"?!"
Uchiha Sasuke and Uzumaki Boruto looked at Hanabi in front of them with shocked expressions, especially after hearing what she said—the disbelief in their eyes only deepened.
The atmosphere suddenly turned strange.
Strangely quiet.
No one knew how much time had passed.
Uchiha Sasuke's lips curled into a bitter smile as he shook his head slightly. "I didn't expect… it really is like what that turtle said… the Ninja World of the past!"
However—this was another Ninja World.
A Ninja World somewhat similar to the one he came from, yet clearly different.
In this world, Shimura Danzo and the Third Hokage had co-founded the Root Group, so the Uchiha clan hadn't been exterminated, and Itachi… didn't shoulder everything and leave the village.
On the contrary… he had trained himself into a muscle-bound man!
Just thinking about that well-defined, muscular Itachi he'd seen not long ago, Sasuke's lips twitched. There was still some doubt lingering in his mind.
Looking up at Hanabi, who had disappeared for many years and was thought to have already sacrificed herself, he fell silent.
Maybe… all of this was fake?
Even this Hanabi, who was supposed to be dead, might be fake.
The moment that thought surfaced, he felt a chill in his heart.
Expressionless, his hand quietly reached behind him.
However—Hanabi noticed this and guessed what Sasuke was thinking. She remembered how she herself wasn't any better when she first arrived in this world.
Especially after watching [Konoha Fortress], the latest movie from Root Studio, hearing about the Third Hokage embezzling public funds, Advisor Mitokado being involved in corruption and bribery, the Fourth Hokage dating women at night, and Orochimaru defecting from the village over 1 billion…
At that time, she too wondered if she was trapped in some kind of Infinite Tsukuyomi illusion.
Only, this Infinite Tsukuyomi came with a bit of a stomachache!
Later—she also experienced Root Studio going bankrupt, the Third Hokage working hard to pay back debts, juggling multiple jobs a day, and Asuma becoming a migrant worker in the city to repay his father's debt…
Thinking back on all this, she still couldn't help but sigh with emotion.
Hanabi let out a deep sigh: "As unbelievable as it sounds, this really is another Ninja World, and I came here through the Dragon Vein. I've been here for several years now."
Then—
"I even got married and had children."
Boruto nodded and sighed as well. "That's just… too unbelievable! So, those two girls we met yesterday… they're actually my cousins?!"
Even so, it didn't make sense for Konoha to dispatch such an exaggerated team to hunt them just because of those two girls! That was way over the top!
At the time, he had been so scared he was trembling all over!
If his aunt hadn't shown up, he and his teacher might have been finished by now.
However—
Hanabi and Yuto just gave awkward smiles, not really knowing how to explain it. Calling them cousins wasn't wrong, but the relationships involved were just… too complicated.
"Ahem!" Hanabi faked a couple of coughs and laughed awkwardly. "This… you'll understand in a few days. As for what's next…"
She glanced at Minato, who was still frozen in place, then subtly nudged Yuto.
[What should we do next?]
"…"
You're asking me? Who am I supposed to ask then?
Yuto rolled his eyes as he looked at Minato, who seemed to be going through a total worldview collapse.
Thinking about it, today was really thanks to Minato! Otherwise… he probably would've had to build a memorial for his second nephew from another world.
He sighed…
[Time travel sure is risky~]
After Hanabi briefly explained things to Boruto, in order to prevent his teacher from being sacrificed, Boruto hurried back and persuaded Sasuke to surrender.
When Sasuke saw Boruto return, he probably looked completely dumbfounded. He had already made up his mind to burn himself as a fire to illuminate the young leaves of Konoha…
And now you come running back?
Then, realizing that there was no way out, he chose to surrender.
Anyway, as a ninja, getting captured wasn't the end—as long as he wasn't dead, he could figure out a way to escape later.
What ninja hasn't spent a few nights in jail?
So after thinking it through, he decided to surrender. But then—he never expected… to be brought here by the Fourth Hokage himself.
Yuto looked at Minato, who was still silent, frowning one moment and looking suddenly enlightened the next, patted his shoulder and said, "Aren't you going to say something?"
You're the current Hokage, after all~
Faced with visitors from another world—one of whom is your grandson, and the other your son's close friend, isn't this the time to say something?
Just as he finished speaking, Minato, feeling someone pushing him, snapped back to his senses.
He frowned slightly and looked at Yuto, then glanced at Sasuke, then Hanabi, and finally at Suzune, who was pouring tea nearby. With a sigh, he said: "Now I finally understand why every time he sees you, the Hyuga Clan Leader wants to beat you to death!"
"…"
Is that the point?
Is that really the point right now?!
Yuto's face darkened, and he brushed Minato's hand away. He glanced at Sasuke and Boruto, both of whom were watching with curious faces, then said irritably to Minato, "So after all that thinking… that's what you came up with?"
"Hahaha~ I was just a little shocked, that's all!" Minato scratched his head with a laugh. "I didn't expect… there to be another Ninja World! The same people, no, similar people, but a different world!"
Especially when he heard that he and Kushina had died, that Naruto had a rough start in life for various reasons, and all sorts of incredible things…
The Uchiha clan was wiped out, Danzo did all kinds of shady things, Jiraiya-sensei also died, Madara was the mastermind, and Obito was the one who killed him and Kushina…
It still left him deeply shocked!
"It's just… too unbelievable." Then he smiled slightly and looked suspiciously at Yuto. "But Yuto, how do you know all this? Thinking back now, it's pretty strange! You quit being a ninja after graduating from the Academy, but you know about the Nine Tails incident… don't tell me—"
As expected of the Fourth Hokage—he goes straight for the point!
But—
Hanabi had asked those questions before too, so Yuto was already prepared. He looked at Minato and said: "Look into my eyes!"
With those words, his three-tomoe Sharingan immediately appeared. The powerful pupil power made Sasuke slightly startled, his gaze filled with disbelief at that pair of Sharingan.
Was that kind of pupil power really from just a three-tomoe Sharingan?!
And this guy… Hanabi's husband is from the Uchiha clan? Who is this guy?!
But then again—
Hyuga and Uchiha clans… this really must be another world!
After a while, as Sasuke began analyzing all the intel in his head again—
"So you've already seen another different Ninja World?!" Minato was slightly surprised, then frowned and muttered, "I remember now… no wonder there was my seal on the Dragon Vein. Actually… I think I've met another world's Naruto too?"
With Yuto's help, Minato also remembered the memories from when he was sealed.
Still—his face remained full of shock and disbelief. Because no matter how you put it… it was just too bizarre.
Looking at his grandson, who was staring at him with a complex expression, he was curious about how Naruto from the other world was doing, but thinking about it, there was still plenty of time, so there was no rush, and he could ask later.
He gave a light chuckle. "No need to be nervous. Why don't we…" Pausing for a moment, he smiled and said: "Welcome to another Ninja World. If you don't mind, you can still call me the Fourth Hokage!"
Then he turned to Sasuke. "No wonder this Sasuke has such a good relationship with Naruto in this world too! Otsutsuki Urashiki? To think such secrets still exist in the Ninja World. It's truly unbelievable. I'll arrange for someone to investigate."
He paused for a bit. "But I still hope… these things can be kept hidden for now, and not let too many people know."
He shook his head bitterly. "After all… it's just too tangled."
Danzo, the Third Hokage, himself and Kushina, Obito, and the other ninja villages. If everyone suddenly found out who killed whom… even if it happened in another world, some sort of incident was bound to happen.
Preparations needed to be made first!
"I'll leave it to you all!"
"Got it, Gra—Hokage-sama!" Boruto laughed brightly. "Actually, I only just graduated, so I don't know much about the past anyway. Besides…" His eyes gleamed. "This Ninja World looks pretty interesting!"
"Mm." Sasuke nodded and said calmly, "I'll be careful, Hokage-sama."
Judging from the current situation, there didn't seem to be any immediate danger. And even if this was all just some elaborate trap… he was already prepared. So, he shouldn't end up in a situation like the one he just saw.
He, Uchiha Sasuke, even after awakening the Rinnegan, sealing the mother of chakra, and saving the Ninja World—his hands had still trembled a little at that time!
With those words finished, Minato sighed emotionally and patted Yuto on the shoulder. "You totally deserved that beating! Oh, and one more thing—next time, keep a better eye on the kids. When I arrived, I saw that the Hyuga and Uchiha Clan Leaders were both really pissed!"
And just like that, he disappeared.
"…"
Mind your own business!
Yuto rolled his eyes and then looked at Boruto and Sasuke again.
As an uncle and… brother-in-law? Cousin-uncle?
He figured he'd better act like a proper elder.
"Then stay here tonight! Don't worry, we've got plenty of rooms at home. We're all family—no need to be polite, no need at all!"
After all—this was his second nephew and… his wife's older sister's son?
Forget it! Forget it! Let's not think about it anymore, the relationships are way too complicated!
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Read upto [V2] Chapter 70 in patreon.com/kurato6180